Condition of Farm Labour in Eastern Germany
Encyclopedia
Condition of Farm Labour in Eastern Germany (in German
: Die Verhältnisse der Landarbeiter im ostelbischen Deutschland) is a book
written by Maximilian Weber, a German
economist
and sociologist, in 1892. Note that the original edition was in German and the title can be translated as "Condition of Farm Labour in Eastern Germany".
In 1890 an association
(known as Verein für Socialpolitik
) of scholars, government officials and other specialists decided to study the situation of landowners in Germany. Weber assumed responsibility for reviewing data from German provinces east of the Elbe
River.
The situation in that part of Germany was influenced by the influx of migratory workers from Eastern Europe
, with special regards to Poles
and Russia
ns, while the German labourers wanted to increase their upward social mobility
, especially by changing the traditional labour relations of that region (workers could only become labourers on annual contract
).
However, their demands and expectations were actually putting them in a weaker position regarding the economic struggle for survival, as they were less competitive than migratory workers.
Weber analyzed those changing labour relations as a symptom of widespread changes in the entire German society.
German language
German is a West Germanic language, related to and classified alongside English and Dutch. With an estimated 90 – 98 million native speakers, German is one of the world's major languages and is the most widely-spoken first language in the European Union....
: Die Verhältnisse der Landarbeiter im ostelbischen Deutschland) is a book
Book
A book is a set or collection of written, printed, illustrated, or blank sheets, made of hot lava, paper, parchment, or other materials, usually fastened together to hinge at one side. A single sheet within a book is called a leaf or leaflet, and each side of a leaf is called a page...
written by Maximilian Weber, a German
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
economist
Economist
An economist is a professional in the social science discipline of economics. The individual may also study, develop, and apply theories and concepts from economics and write about economic policy...
and sociologist, in 1892. Note that the original edition was in German and the title can be translated as "Condition of Farm Labour in Eastern Germany".
In 1890 an association
Voluntary association
A voluntary association or union is a group of individuals who enter into an agreement as volunteers to form a body to accomplish a purpose.Strictly speaking, in many jurisdictions no formalities are necessary to start an association...
(known as Verein für Socialpolitik
Verein für Socialpolitik
The Verein für Socialpolitik is an important society of economists in the German-speaking area. The Society, which covers all branches of economics was founded in 1873. Among its members were eminent economists like Gustav von Schmoller and Adolph Wagner.It annually awards the Gossen Prize to...
) of scholars, government officials and other specialists decided to study the situation of landowners in Germany. Weber assumed responsibility for reviewing data from German provinces east of the Elbe
Elbe
The Elbe is one of the major rivers of Central Europe. It rises in the Krkonoše Mountains of the northwestern Czech Republic before traversing much of Bohemia , then Germany and flowing into the North Sea at Cuxhaven, 110 km northwest of Hamburg...
River.
The situation in that part of Germany was influenced by the influx of migratory workers from Eastern Europe
Eastern Europe
Eastern Europe is the eastern part of Europe. The term has widely disparate geopolitical, geographical, cultural and socioeconomic readings, which makes it highly context-dependent and even volatile, and there are "almost as many definitions of Eastern Europe as there are scholars of the region"...
, with special regards to Poles
Poland
Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
and Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
ns, while the German labourers wanted to increase their upward social mobility
Social mobility
Social mobility refers to the movement of people in a population from one social class or economic level to another. It typically refers to vertical mobility -- movement of individuals or groups up from one socio-economic level to another, often by changing jobs or marrying; but can also refer to...
, especially by changing the traditional labour relations of that region (workers could only become labourers on annual contract
Contract
A contract is an agreement entered into by two parties or more with the intention of creating a legal obligation, which may have elements in writing. Contracts can be made orally. The remedy for breach of contract can be "damages" or compensation of money. In equity, the remedy can be specific...
).
However, their demands and expectations were actually putting them in a weaker position regarding the economic struggle for survival, as they were less competitive than migratory workers.
Weber analyzed those changing labour relations as a symptom of widespread changes in the entire German society.